Lettes to the Editor 7/5/2014

Singer Mick Jagger of British band, the Rolling Stones, reacts as they perform at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu soccer stadium, in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday June 25, 2014 as part of the '14 On Fire' tour. The Madrid concert is the band’s only date in Spain. (AP Photo/Paul White)

From left, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and Terry Jones of the comedy troop Monty Python pose for photographers during a photo call to promote their reunite for a series of gigs. Monday, June, 30, 2014 in London. The group had its first big success with the Monty Python's Flying Circus TV show, which ran from 1969 until 1974, winning fans around the world with its bizarre sketches.(Photo by John Phillips Invision/AP Images)

Editor: Showing his usual desire to help the Republican Party, Herb Linnen in his letter Jun. 20 (“Conservative Test”) advises Republicans to “stay in the middle.”

Since 1964 I have been listening to leftists telling us that the reason Barry Goldwater lost the presidential election was that American voters are not conservative. Landslide victories by Eisenhower, Nixon, and Reagan disprove that leftist claim.

The reason I voted for Lyndon Johnson in 1964, along with tens of millions of my fellow conservatives, was that we abhorred assassinations, that is, we did not like the way JFK had been removed from office in 1963, whether it was by Chicago gangsters, a Cuban dictator, or by a lone nut.

Although many leftists became increasingly disillusioned and critical of his policies, the American people developed a great admiration and respect for JFK during the short period that he was president. He had a great sense of humor, was a decorated WWII veteran, loved his country and its history, and abided by our Constitution, unlike the White House’s current occupant. JFK would never have used the IRS to unconstitutionally and illegally crush conservatives’ freedom of speech.

JOHN NAPE

TAYLOR

...Or get off pot

Editor: Recently, Rep. Lou Barletta threw around the “I” word. He asserted President Barack Obama is “just absolutely ignoring the Constitution and ignoring the laws and ignoring checks and balances.”

Mr. Barletta continued that although articles of impeachment could “probably pass the House,” he personally was not in favor of impeachment.

Mr.. Barletta and House Republicans should either “put up or shut up” as the old adage goes. They have spent six years wasting time and taxpayer dollars on ideologically uncompromising obstructionism: shutting down the government; threatening to destroy the good faith and credit of the United States; voting 54 times to repeal, defund, or delay the Affordable Care Act; and conducting investigative hearings (Benghazi, the IRS, Fast & Furious...), but to

date have produced not a shred of evidence connecting Mr. Obama or anyone in the White House to any

wrongdoing.

They promise they will eventually find such evidence if they just keep

investigating.

In reality, they are simply stoking their base’s conspiratorial paranoia and irrational vitriol. So why not waste more time and money on impeachment? Or on

lawsuits?

Last week, House Speaker John Boehner threatened to file a lawsuit against Mr. Obama for “not faithfully executing the laws.” When asked which specific actions of President Obama were the basis for the lawsuit, Mr. Boehner replied, “When I make that decision, I will let you know.”

If House Republicans would rather vote on lawsuits and impeachment than work on solutions to these problems, then “just do it.” Or, as another old adage exhorts, “Either perform a certain bodily function or get off the pot.”

JOE HANNON

SCRANTON

Selective memories

Editor: I’m amazed at the current outcry concerning the administration’s response to events in Iraq.

As if it’s President Barack Obama’s fault things are unfolding as they are. We completely destabilized the region by going to war in Iraq under a false pretext.

We had apparently done no research on the type of people we would encounter, the ethnic groups, the ancient animosities or the deep religious differences.

We helped set up a

corrupt and noninclusive government.

What did we think was going to happen when American forces departed? And we should do what? Impose more “nation building?”

Then again, those with closed minds are seldom troubled by the truth. And their memories are both short and very selective.

TOM MIELCZAREKMADISONVILLE

Pot, meet kettle

Editor: Rock legend Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, who gave us iconic hits from “Satisfaction” to “Ruby Tuesday” and “Paint it Black,” recently dissed the surviving members of Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

The comedy troupe, like the Stones, formed in England in the 1960s and they are delighting their devotees on their current tour.

Mr. Jagger, however, sneered that the Pythons were simply a bunch of wrinkly old men, out for a quick buck. That’s a subject, of course, that Mick would know a little about.

Seeing that he was arrested for marijuana possession and called for its legalization, I guess you could say it’s the pot painting the kettle black.

VINCE MORABITO

SCRANTON

Charity theft

Editor: When will it stop? It seems like every month, someone steals money from the charitable organization that employs them. When the person gets caught, he always has some kind of excuse. And they swear they’ll pay the money back. But how much did they really steal? Who knows?

I wonder what the penalty really is for grand theft. These people usually just get a slap on the wrist. Some of them even get their jobs back. How can that be?

Other people see this and think they can get away with stealing at work, too. Don’t these people have a conscience?

One woman was caught stealing and one was sentenced to a few months in jail. With good behavior, she’ll be out in no time.

But how much did she really steal before getting caught? And how can she possibly pay back tens of thousands of dollars and pay her lawyer?

She will probably get her job back, too.

We’ll see who’s next to steal from the charitable organization that employs them. After all, it’s only donation money, right?

RONNIE MAYER

MADISON TWP.

High court travesty

Editor: I can understand rulings against abortion, even though I am pro-choice, but the Supreme Court ruling in the Hobby Lobby case is a travesty.

Some 99 percent of women, Catholic and otherwise, use contraception.

The ruling was 5-4 in favor. Guess who the justices were that ruled in favor? Five males, but health insurance often covers Viagra.

If they make it harder for women to obtain contraception, does that mean more abortions? They are cutting off their noses to spite their faces.

MARIA VARECKA

LAKE ARIEL

Aliens delivered

Editor: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi made a comment about the illegal immigrant kids coming into the country. “I wish that I could take all those children home with me,” she said

I wonder if she would say the same thing to all the homeless veterans and the ones that do not have a job in this country. I bet not.

This is all being done to get future Democratic voters. I’m sure those kids did not wake up one day and say, “Let’s go to the USA.” Someone is behind bringing them here and mark my words, we will find out who it is

CHARLIE NEWCOMB SR.

SCRANTON

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